Automatic yarn-changing mechanism for knitting-machines.



- A. GEE. I AUTOMATIC YARN CHANGING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

, APPLICATION FILED JUAN! 4, 1910.

71,9 Patented 0012.4, 1910.

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ALBERT GEE, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 WILLIAM P. MOORE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC YARN-CHANGING MECHANIfiM FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 4, 1910. Serial No. 565,013.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT GEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Yarn-Changing Mechanism for Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to an improved mechanism automatically operating to change one thread or yarn to another during the knitting of a fabric, such as a stocking or undergarment, without having to stop the machine; and in such connection my invention relates to the constructive arrangement of such a mechanism for the de fined purpose.

Hitherto to change from one thread or yarn to another in knitting a fabric, such as hosiery, in which mercerized cotton was employed in one portion and silk or similar threads in another portion these changes have usually been made with quite COIlSlderable waste or breakage of ends and hence to the detriment or impairment of the fabricated article as well as loss of much time in stopping to take up or join ends.

Theprincipal object of my present invention, is to avoid these disadvantages and to effect changes of threads in knitting operations, without stopping the machine.

My invention, consists of an automatically operating yarn changing mechanism, constructively arranged in substantially the manner hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, Figure 1, is a front elevational view of a circular knitting machine with an automatically operating yarn or thread changing mechanism, embodying the main features of my invention, shown in application thereto. Fig. 2, is an elevational view from the inner side, of a spring controlled pivoted bracket having a channelway and a cam shifted by a pin to throw one thread or yarn into action with needles ofthe cylinder and another thread or yarn out of action with respect to needles of the cylinder. Fig. 3, is a rear elevational view of-the spring controlled means for shifting a pin first into contact with one surface of the pivoted switch cam of the bracket of Fig. 1, to permit of the changing from one thread to another during the knitting operations; and Fig. 4, is a side elevational view of a slotted device to guide a thread or yarn to the needles of the cylinder.

In the drawings 5, is a rotating cam-ring for the needle cylinder 5 mounted on a base 6, supported upon standards 7 and 7*. Journaled therein is a shaft 8, which carries a gear 9. This gear meshes with a gear 10, mounted on a shaft 11, of the standard 7.

12, is a pattern or gear-wheel loosely mounted on the shaft 11, and which shaft carries a sprocket-wheel 13.

14, is a sprocket-chain mounted 011 the wheel 13, and is provided with projections 14*, at required distances apart to regulate the length of the garment or stocking'to be fabricated.

The gear-wheel 12, on one side, is provided with an adjusting screw 12, for a purpose to be fully explained.

16, is a rotatable yarn or thread carrier for spools or bobbins, not shown, and having a spring-tension eye at, extending from a cross'arm a Through this eye a thread or yarn passes. At the opposite end of the cross-arm a is arranged a slotted guide o to direct the threads or yarns into the path of the needles of the cylinder 5*.

17, is a post fitted to the cylinder 5*, and carrying a bearing block 18, for a crankshaft 19. This block 18, is provided wit-h a spring .9, bearing against the shaft 19, to steady the action of the shaft, in use. H The shaft 19, is provided with a pin 6, at one end and at the opposite end is provided a cross-arm 21, havingpins b and 6 at both ends thereof. At the inner end of the block 18, are journaled to alternately move up and down right angular bars 22 and 28, as shown in Fig. 3. These bars are oppositely positioned with respect to each other, in their workings, and have respectively coiled springs 0 and 0 connected at their ends with a housing for the bars 22 and 23, and With said bars, as shown in Fig. 3. The bearing block 18, is adjustably connected with the post 17, by means of a jam-nut a", to permit of the ready withdrawal of the block 18, as may be required.

24, is a bracket journaled to a forked plate 0!, secured to the cylinder base 6.

a is an adjusting screw bolt extending from the bracket 24, to permit of the limited reciprocatory action of the said bracket under the tension of the spring a, engaging Patented (lot. a, rare. 1

the foot d of the bracket 24:, and engaging in a recess (1 in the plate (1, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The bracket 24, is provided with an angular extension 03 arranged to periodically contact with an adjustable screw-bolt 12, of the gear-wheel 12, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to shift the spring tensioned bracket 24, inward periodically, as required, and thereby to cause the pin 1), of the crankshaft 19, to shift alternately u or down the spring controlled bars 22 an 23, so as to permit of the feeding of the particular thread a: or 00 into the path of the needles m of the cylinder 5. The 'upper end of the bracket 24, on the inner side is provided with two beveled strips e and e arranged to provide a V-shaped channelway 6 for the pin 2), to enter and pass beyond to contact with a triangular-shaped switch cam 6 pivoted to the bracket 24. The said switch- .cam .6 is held in operative pivotal relation with the bracket by means of a pivot 6 having a spring frictional washer as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The beveled strips 6 and c of the bracket 24, at the inner lower and upper ends respectively, are notched or recessed at e and e, to engage the point of the movable switch-cam 6 Fig. 2, until shifted therefrom by the impact of the pin 5, eccentrically placed on the crank-shaft 19, and extending radially of the machine, to an opposite notch by the action of the said pin b, into such a position as to permit either one edge of the said switch-cam or another thereof to shift said pin either downward or upward to cause a different thread or yarn to be fed to needles ofssaid cylinder 5 to thereby cause automatically changes in positions of a thread or yarn to either one of action with the needles of said cylinder or of inaction with the needles "of said cylinder. The cylinder 5*, carries an ordinary cam inside the base 6, for operating on the roller 6*, pivoted to the lever 6". This lever operates a slide 6, through the pin 6 Pivoted to the slide 6, is apawl 6 which operates the pattern or gear wheel 12, carrying the screw bolt 12, actuating periodically, the angular extension d of the bracket 24. The lever 6 is held against the cam and returned to its initial position, by means of the spring 6, as shown in Fig. 1.

Having thus described the nature and object of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a knitting machine, a yarn changing device, comprising movable yarn guides, means to shift one of said guides into yarn feeding position and to remove the other guide from such position, comprising a crank-shaft rotating with the needle-cams, a rocker-arm on said shaft having means to contact with the respective guides to lift them, a pin eccentrically placed on said shaft and extending radially of the machine and a relatively fixed switch-cam mounted on the frame of the machine and patternmeans to move said cam into and out of the path of said pin, said cam being shifted by the impact of said pin to cause said pin to pass on opposite sides thereof, at alternate operations.

2. In a knitting machine, a yarn changing device, comprising movable yarn guides, means to shift one of said guides into yarn feeding position and to remove the other guide from such position, comprising a crank-shaft, a rocker-arm on said shaft having means to contact with the respective guides to lift them, a pin eccentrically placed on said shaft and extending radially of the machine and a switch-cam, pattern-means to move said cam into and out of the path of said pin, said cam being shifted by the impact of said pin to cause said pin to pass on opposite sides thereof, at alternate operations and means to cause relative rotation between-the parts carrying said crank-shaft and the parts carrying said switch-cam.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' ALBERT GEE.

Witnesses i J. WALTER DOUGLASS, THOMAS M. SMITH. 

